Day 11 of LA wildfires: What’s the latest and what does research show? | News about the climate crisis

Although the dangerous wildfire weather conditions that caused the devastating fires in Los Angeles have subsided, forecasters warn that another round of Santa Ana winds is expected early next week.

The death toll has risen to 27, the Los Angeles County Coroner said Thursday night. Authorities warn that the number could rise further as the search and rescue continues.

According to local media reports, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives received more than 150 reports of what may have triggered Palisades Fire.

Here’s what we know:

What’s the latest in the field?

Number of dead and missing

• At least 27 people died in the fires, while 31 people are still missing. Entire neighborhoods were destroyedand authorities said it would take months to clean them up.
• Ten deaths were associated with the Palisades Fire, and 17 deaths were associated with the Eaton Fire.
• About 82,400 people are still under evacuation orders and another 90,400 under evacuation warnings.

Active fires

• Palisades Fire: It has burned nearly 9,596 hectares (23,713 acres) in and around the Pacific Palisades and is 27 percent contained.

No growth has been recorded in the last 72 hours.

• Eaton Fire: This fire has burned more than 5,713 hectares (14,117 acres) and is now 55 percent contained, up 10 percent from yesterday.

The City of Pasadena has declared a local public health emergency in response to the ongoing effects of the Eaton fire.

“Ash and debris pose a significant potential current and future risk to health, safety and the environment,” Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) it is stated in the press release. “PPHD is declaring a local health condition to ensure residents take appropriate precautions to protect themselves from toxic ash and debris.”

• Automatic ignition: That started in Ventura County and is now 85 percent contained. Firefighters halted its progress, limiting the area of ​​the burn to 25 acres (61 hectares).

According to Cal Fire, more than 5,000 firefighters they are fighting of the fire, including reinforcements from Israel that arrived Thursday and crews from Canada and Mexico.

Recently localized fires

• Hurst Fire: The 324-hectare (800-acre) fire in the San Fernando Valley is now fully contained.
• A small mountain fire: San Bernardino police officers investigating the Little Mountain fire, which burned 14 hectares (34 acres), reported the arrest of a man on two felony charges, including reckless burning. According to local media reports, the fire was completely contained.

What is expected on Friday?

The Los Angeles area is experiencing improved weather conditions, which is helping firefighters’ efforts against the ongoing wildfires.

The National Weather Service indicated that strong Santa Ana winds, which contributed significantly to the rapid spread of the fire, were expected to subside by the weekend. This shift is expected to bring increased moisture from the Pacific Ocean, creating more favorable retention conditions.

Firefighters are using this period of calmer weather to reinforce protective lines around large fires. However, authorities warn that while progress is being made, the situation remains dynamic, and residents should be alert for any changes.

Looking ahead, meteorologists are warning of a possible return of strong winds early next week, which could worsen the fire situation.

“There is definitely a high probability that critical fires will develop over the course of the next week,” Rich Thompson, incident meteorologist for the Palisades Fire, said at a news conference Wednesday night.

Good news: We’re looking forward to a much-needed break from weather worries with the wildfires ending this week. Bad news: Next week is a worry. While we are confident there will NOT be a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected. #cawx #PalisadesFire #EatonFire pic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp

— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 15, 2025

What do we know about the investigation into what started the fires?

Utility equipment under scrutiny

Southern California Edison (SCE), an electric utility in Los Angeles, is under investigation for his potential role in starting the Eaton fire.

At least four lawsuits have been filed alleging that SCE’s equipment may have caused the fire. Among the petitioners is Jeremy Gursey, whose Altadena home was destroyed by the Eaton fire, according to CNN. On Monday, he filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, saying SCE is liable.

Gursey cited photos taken by Altadena residents Jennifer Errico and Marcus Errico as evidence. They filmed small fires under power lines in Eaton Canyon.

However, Marcus Errico said he was unsure if SCE was responsible for the fire.

“I saw a glow on the hillside above our house,” Errico told CNN. “And as I got closer, I could see right across from us on the hillside in Eaton Canyon, there’s a line of transformer towers with power lines stretching into the mountains. And at the base of one, there was just a small ring of flames around the entire base,” he added.

The company defended its decision to keep the power lines operational, saying wind speeds were just below the threshold required for shutdowns. However, safety auditors raised concerns about SCE’s fire risk modeling, suggesting their estimates may not adequately account for high winds.

Fire on the New Year

Some Pacific Palisades residents have expressed concern that the devastating Palisades fire could be linked to a smaller fire that broke out on New Year’s Day, potentially sparked by fireworks, in the same area.

According to authorities, an earlier fire broke out six days earlier in the same vicinity and was reportedly put out within hours by local firefighters.

The close timing and location of the two fires raised questions about whether strong winds could have reignited the smoldering remains of New Year’s Eve fireworks, potentially sparking the Palisades Fire.

However, earlier this week, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said there is currently no evidence linking the two incidents. “We don’t have any information to suggest there is a connection, but that’s the benefit of bringing in outside sources to look into every detail,” she added.

According to Cal Fire officials, about 95 percent of wildfires in California are caused by human activity, either through arson, downed power lines or accidents such as backyard barbecues or fireworks celebrations gone wrong.

Formation of investigative working group

In response to the complex nature of these investigations, leaders of federal and local law enforcement agencies joined together to create the Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force.

This multi-agency team will investigate the origin of the fires, while also conducting case leads, developing and sharing crime intelligence, and supporting the effective prosecution of wildfire-related crimes in Los Angeles County.

The task force will focus on four key areas: robbery, burglary and impersonation; crimes related to arson; illegal drone activity; and financial fraud targeting disaster victims and individuals seeking to make charitable donations.